HEAVY METAL CONTENTS IN COMMERCIAL FISHES CONSUMED IN UMUAHIA AND THEIR ASSOCIATED HUMAN HEALTH RISKS

This study evaluated the heavy metal contents in commercial fishes consumed in Umuahia and their associated health consequences. Trachunis symmetricus, Clupia pallassi, Micropogonias undulatus, Ictalumus punctalus, Scomber japonicus, Merluccius paradoxus, Pomatomus saltatrix and Oreochromis niloticus were fishes used for the study. The digestion of fish samples, heavy metal analyses and health risk aassessment were carried out using standard methods and models. The heavy analyses of the fishes show that chromium was not detected in all the fishes while lead was found to be significantly (P